2019–20 Minnesota Timberwolves season

The 2019–20 Minnesota Timberwolves season was the 31st season of the franchise in the National Basketball Association (NBA).

2019–20 Minnesota Timberwolves season
Head coach	Ryan Saunders
General manager	Scott Layden
Owners	Glen Taylor
Arena	Target Center
Results
Record	19–45 (.297)
Place	Division: 5th (Northwest) Conference: 14th (Western)
Playoff finish	Did not qualify
Stats at Basketball Reference
Local media
Television	Fox Sports North
Radio	WCCO
< 2018–19 2020–21 >

The season was suspended by the league officials following the games of March 11^[1] after it was reported that Rudy Gobert tested positive for COVID-19.^[2] On June 4, 2020, the season came to an end for the Timberwolves when the NBA Board of Governors approved a plan that would restart the season with 22 teams returning to play on July 31, 2020, in the NBA Bubble, which was approved by the National Basketball Players Association the next day.^[3][4] Due to their poor record, the Timberwolves season came to an end. However the Timberwolves won the draft lottery giving them the 1st pick in the 2020 NBA draft.

Draft

Main article: 2019 NBA draft

Round	Pick	Player	Position	Nationality	College
1	11	Cameron Johnson	Small Forward	United States	North Carolina
2	43	Jaylen Nowell	Point guard	United States	Washington

The Timberwolves held both a first and a second round draft pick. The 11th pick along with Dario Šarić was traded to the Suns in exchange for the 6th pick Jarrett Culver.

Roster

2019–20 Minnesota Timberwolves roster

Players

Coaches

Pos. No. Player Height Weight DOB From G 5 Malik Beasley 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 187 lb (85 kg) 1996–11–26 Florida State G 23 Jarrett Culver 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 195 lb (88 kg) 1999–02–20 Texas Tech G 12 Jacob Evans 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 210 lb (95 kg) 1997–06–18 Cincinnati F 41 Juan Hernangómez 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 214 lb (97 kg) 1995–09–28 Spain F 16 James Johnson 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 240 lb (109 kg) 1987–02–20 Wake Forest F 10 Jake Layman 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 209 lb (95 kg) 1994–03–07 Maryland F 30 Kelan Martin (TW) 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 230 lb (104 kg) 1995–08–03 Butler G 6 Jordan McLaughlin (TW) 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) 185 lb (84 kg) 1996–04–09 USC G 4 Jaylen Nowell 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 201 lb (91 kg) 1999–07–09 Washington G 20 Josh Okogie 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 213 lb (97 kg) 1998–09–01 Georgia Tech C 11 Naz Reid 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 264 lb (120 kg) 1999–08–26 LSU G 0 D'Angelo Russell  6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 193 lb (88 kg) 1996–02–23 Ohio State F 14 Omari Spellman 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 245 lb (111 kg) 1997–07–21 Villanova C 32 Karl-Anthony Towns  7 ft 0 in (2.13 m) 248 lb (112 kg) 1995–11–15 Kentucky G/F 1 Evan Turner 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 220 lb (100 kg) 1988–06–10 Ohio State F 3 Jarred Vanderbilt 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 214 lb (97 kg) 1999–04–03 Kentucky

Head coach Ryan Saunders Assistant(s) Kevin Burleson Bryan Gates Kevin Hanson Pablo Prigioni David Vanterpool (Associate HC) Legend (DP) Unsigned draft pick (FA) Free agent (S) Suspended (GL) On assignment to G League affiliate (TW) Two-way affiliate player Injured Roster Updated: 2020–02–06

Standings

Division

Northwest Division	W	L	PCT	GB	Home	Road	Div	GP
y – Denver Nuggets	46	27	.630	–	26‍–‍11	20‍–‍16	12–2	73
x – Oklahoma City Thunder	44	28	.611	1.5	23‍–‍14	21‍–‍14	8–5	72
x – Utah Jazz	44	28	.611	1.5	23‍–‍12	21‍–‍16	5–7	72
x – Portland Trail Blazers	35	39	.473	11.5	21‍–‍15	14‍–‍24	5–8	74
Minnesota Timberwolves	19	45	.297	22.5	8‍–‍24	11‍–‍21	2–10	64

Conference

Western Conference
#	Team	W	L	PCT	GB	GP
1	c – Los Angeles Lakers *	52	19	.732	–	71
2	x – Los Angeles Clippers	49	23	.681	3.5	72
3	y – Denver Nuggets *	46	27	.630	7.0	73
4	y – Houston Rockets *	44	28	.611	8.5	72
5	x – Oklahoma City Thunder	44	28	.611	8.5	72
6	x – Utah Jazz	44	28	.611	8.5	72
7	x – Dallas Mavericks	43	32	.573	11.0	75
8	x – Portland Trail Blazers	35	39	.473	18.5	74
9	pi – Memphis Grizzlies	34	39	.466	19.0	73
10	Phoenix Suns	34	39	.466	19.0	73
11	San Antonio Spurs	32	39	.451	20.0	71
12	Sacramento Kings	31	41	.431	21.5	72
13	New Orleans Pelicans	30	42	.417	22.5	72
14	Minnesota Timberwolves	19	45	.297	29.5	64
15	Golden State Warriors	15	50	.231	34.0	65

Game log

Preseason

2019 preseason game log Total: 2–3 (Home: 1–0; Road: 1–3)
Preseason: 2–3 (home: 1–0; road: 1–3) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 1 October 8 @ Phoenix L 106–111 Karl-Anthony Towns (19) Karl-Anthony Towns (10) Shabazz Napier (7) Talking Stick Resort Arena 7,593 0–1 2 October 10 @ Golden State L 123–143 Layman, Culver (17) Naz Reid (11) Josh Okogie (5) Chase Center 18,064 0–2 3 October 13 Maccabi Haifa W 131–101 Treveon Graham (14) Noah Vonleh (8) Jarrett Culver (4) Target Center 8,703 1–2 4 October 15 @ Indiana W 119–111 Karl-Anthony Towns (33) Robert Covington (19) Jeff Teague (7) Bankers Life Fieldhouse 9,962 2–2 5 October 17 @ Milwaukee L 96–118 Karl-Anthony Towns (16) Robert Covington (11) Jeff Teague (5) Fiserv Forum 16,148 2–3
2019–20 season schedule

Regular season

2019–20 game log Total: 19–45 (Home: 8–24; Road: 11–21)
October: 3–1 (home: 1–0; road: 2–1) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 1 October 23 @ Brooklyn W 127–126 (OT) Karl-Anthony Towns (36) Karl-Anthony Towns (14) Shabazz Napier (7) Barclays Center 17,732 1–0 2 October 25 @ Charlotte W 121–99 Karl-Anthony Towns (37) Karl-Anthony Towns (15) Karl-Anthony Towns (8) Spectrum Center 14,879 2–0 3 October 27 Miami W 116–109 Andrew Wiggins (25) Karl-Anthony Towns (11) Jeff Teague (8) Target Center 17,049 3–0 4 October 30 @ Philadelphia L 95–117 Andrew Wiggins (19) Towns, Okogie (6) Jeff Teague (5) Wells Fargo Center 20,204 3–1
November : 7–7 (home: 2–6; road: 5–1) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 5 November 2 @ Washington W 131–109 Andrew Wiggins (21) Gorgui Dieng (8) Jeff Teague (13) Capital One Arena 15,150 4–1 6 November 4 Milwaukee L 106–134 Andrew Wiggins (25) Josh Okogie (7) Napier, Dieng (4) Target Center 16,271 4–2 7 November 6 @ Memphis L 121–137 Andrew Wiggins (30) Karl-Anthony Towns (13) Jarrett Culver (7) FedExForum 13,503 4–3 8 November 8 Golden State W 125–119 (OT) Andrew Wiggins (40) Karl-Anthony Towns (14) Andrew Wiggins (7) Target Center 15,647 5–3 9 November 10 Denver L 98–100 (OT) Wiggins, Towns (25) Karl-Anthony Towns (16) Karl-Anthony Towns (6) Target Center 13,553 5–4 10 November 11 @ Detroit W 120–114 Andrew Wiggins (33) Karl-Anthony Towns (8) Karl-Anthony Towns (6) Little Caesars Arena 12,526 6–4 11 November 13 San Antonio W 129–114 Andrew Wiggins (30) Karl-Anthony Towns (11) Andrew Wiggins (7) Target Center 11,581 7–4 12 November 15 Washington L 116–137 Karl-Anthony Towns (36) Karl-Anthony Towns (10) Jeff Teague (11) Target Center 12,716 7–5 13 November 16 Houston L 105–125 Karl-Anthony Towns (27) Karl-Anthony Towns (15) Jeff Teague (12) Target Center 18,978 7–6 14 November 18 @ Utah W 112–102 Karl-Anthony Towns (29) Karl-Anthony Towns (13) Jeff Teague (11) Vivint Smart Home Arena 18,306 8–6 15 November 20 Utah L 95–103 Andrew Wiggins (22) Karl-Anthony Towns (12) Jeff Teague (6) Target Center 13,177 8–7 16 November 23 Phoenix L 98–100 Karl-Anthony Towns (31) Karl-Anthony Towns (17) Jeff Teague (8) Target Center 17,362 8–8 17 November 25 @ Atlanta W 125–113 Karl-Anthony Towns (28) Karl-Anthony Towns (13) Teague, Towns (8) State Farm Arena 16,218 9–8 18 November 27 @ San Antonio W 113–101 Andrew Wiggins (26) Karl-Anthony Towns (14) Teague, Towns (6) AT&T Center 18,354 10–8
December : 2–12 (home: 1–5; road: 1–7) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 19 December 1 Memphis L 107–115 Karl-Anthony Towns (21) Karl-Anthony Towns (12) Andrew Wiggins (7) Target Center 12,276 10–9 20 December 4 @ Dallas L 114–121 Wiggins, Towns (26) Karl-Anthony Towns (9) Karl-Anthony Towns (7) American Airlines Center 19,671 10–10 21 December 6 @ Oklahoma City L 127–139 (OT) Jeff Teague (32) Robert Covington (7) Jeff Teague (9) Chesapeake Energy Arena 18,203 10–11 22 December 8 @ L. A. Lakers L 125–142 Wiggins, Towns (19) Jordan Bell (6) Karl-Anthony Towns (8) Staples Center 18,997 10–12 23 December 9 @ Phoenix L 109–125 Karl-Anthony Towns (33) Karl-Anthony Towns (15) Teague, Wiggins (4) Talking Stick Resort Arena 13,230 10–13 24 December 11 Utah L 116–127 Jeff Teague (32) Karl-Anthony Towns (11) Jeff Teague (6) Target Center 12,369 10–14 25 December 13 L. A. Clippers L 117–124 Karl-Anthony Towns (39) Karl-Anthony Towns (12) Jeff Teague (5) Target Center 17,585 10–15 26 December 18 New Orleans L 99–107 Andrew Wiggins (27) Gorgui Dieng (8) Jeff Teague (9) Target Center 12,490 10–16 27 December 20 @ Denver L 100–109 Andrew Wiggins (19) Jordan Bell (8) Andrew Wiggins (6) Pepsi Center 19,520 10–17 28 December 21 @ Portland L 106–113 Andrew Wiggins (33) Gorgui Dieng (12) Jeff Teague (8) Moda Center 19,393 10–18 29 December 23 @ Golden State L 104–113 Andrew Wiggins (22) Dieng, Vonleh (8) Teague, McLaughlin (4) Chase Center 18,064 10–19 30 December 26 @ Sacramento W 105–104 (2OT) Gorgui Dieng (21) Gorgui Dieng (15) Shabazz Napier (9) Golden 1 Center 17,583 11–19 31 December 28 Cleveland L 88–94 Jeff Teague (18) Noah Vonleh (9) Jeff Teague (4) Target Center 15,411 11–20 32 December 30 Brooklyn W 122–115 (OT) Shabazz Napier (24) Gorgui Dieng (20) Shabazz Napier (8) Target Center 15,824 12–20
January : 3–12 (home: 2–7; road: 1–5) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 33 January 1 @ Milwaukee L 104–106 Shabazz Napier (22) Robert Covington (11) Jarrett Culver (5) Fiserv Forum 17,819 12–21 34 January 2 Golden State W 99–84 Napier, Covington (20) Robert Covington (10) Shabazz Napier (7) Target Center 15,477 13–21 35 January 5 @ Cleveland W 118–103 Gorgui Dieng (22) Gorgui Dieng (13) Shabazz Napier (7) Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse 16,159 14–21 36 January 7 @ Memphis L 112–119 Jarrett Culver (24) Covington, Vonleh (6) Jeff Teague (6) FedExForum 14,117 14–22 37 January 9 Portland W 116–102 Andrew Wiggins (23) Gorgui Dieng (10) Andrew Wiggins (8) Target Center 13,720 15–22 38 January 11 @ Houston L 109–139 Josh Okogie (16) Jarrett Culver (8) Okogie, Culver (5) Toyota Center 18,055 15–23 39 January 13 Oklahoma City L 104–117 Naz Reid (20) Okogie, Culver, Napier (5) Jeff Teague (5) Target Center 11,044 15–24 40 January 15 Indiana L 99–104 Jarrett Culver (17) Gorgui Dieng (11) Shabazz Napier (9) Target Center 12,648 15–25 41 January 17 @ Indiana L 114–116 Karl-Anthony Towns (27) Robert Covington (10) Shabazz Napier (9) Bankers Life Fieldhouse 16,248 15–26 42 January 18 Toronto L 112–122 Jarrett Culver (26) Andrew Wiggins (10) Andrew Wiggins (11) Target Center 16,520 15–27 43 January 20 Denver L 100–107 Karl-Anthony Towns (28) Towns, Okogie (8) Shabazz Napier (8) Target Center 12,172 15–28 44 January 22 @ Chicago L 110–117 Karl-Anthony Towns (40) Covington, Dieng, Napier (7) Andrew Wiggins (9) United Center 18,875 15–29 45 January 24 Houston L 124–131 Karl-Anthony Towns (30) Karl-Anthony Towns (12) Keita Bates-Diop (6) Target Center 16,101 15–30 46 January 25 Oklahoma City L 104–113 Karl-Anthony Towns (37) Shabazz Napier (10) Shabazz Napier (13) Target Center 16,236 15–31 47 January 27 Sacramento L 129–133 (OT) Andrew Wiggins (36) Andrew Wiggins (9) Napier, Wiggins (8) Target Center 13,449 15–32
February : 2–9 (home: 1–3; road: 1–6) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 48 February 1 @ L. A. Clippers L 106–118 Karl-Anthony Towns (32) Karl-Anthony Towns (12) Shabazz Napier (10) Staples Center 19,068 15–33 49 February 3 @ Sacramento L 109–113 Karl-Anthony Towns (22) Karl-Anthony Towns (10) Shabazz Napier (7) Golden 1 Center 15,819 15–34 50 February 5 Atlanta L 120–127 Andrew Wiggins (25) Karl-Anthony Towns (11) Jordan McLaughlin (7) Target Center 10,779 15–35 51 February 8 L. A. Clippers W 142–115 Jordan McLaughlin (24) Karl-Anthony Towns (13) Jordan McLaughlin (11) Target Center 18,978 16–35 52 February 10 @ Toronto L 126–137 Karl-Anthony Towns (23) Karl-Anthony Towns (10) Karl-Anthony Towns (7) Scotiabank Arena 19,800 16–36 53 February 12 Charlotte L 108–115 Malik Beasley (28) Juan Hernangómez (12) D'Angelo Russell (11) Target Center 18,978 16–37 54 February 21 Boston L 117–127 Malik Beasley (27) Naz Reid (9) D'Angelo Russell (13) Target Center 18,978 16–38 55 February 23 @ Denver L 116–128 Kelan Martin (21) Malik Beasley (8) Jordan McLaughlin (10) Pepsi Center 19,626 16–39 56 February 24 @ Dallas L 123–139 D'Angelo Russell (29) Culver, Martin (6) D'Angelo Russell (5) American Airlines Center 19,936 16–40 57 February 26 @ Miami W 129–126 D'Angelo Russell (27) Malik Beasley (6) D'Angelo Russell (6) American Airlines Arena 19,600 17–40 58 February 28 @ Orlando L 125–136 D'Angelo Russell (28) Juan Hernangómez (13) D'Angelo Russell (7) Amway Center 18,846 17–41
March: 2–4 (home: 1–3; road: 1–1) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 59 March 1 Dallas L 91–111 D'Angelo Russell (16) Hernangómez, Reid (12) D'Angelo Russell (7) Target Center 18,058 17–42 60 March 3 @ New Orleans W 139–134 Malik Beasley (28) Naz Reid (14) D'Angelo Russell (8) Smoothie King Center 15,264 18–42 61 March 4 Chicago W 115–108 Malik Beasley (24) Naz Reid (11) Jordan McLaughlin (7) Target Center 13,392 19–42 62 March 6 Orlando L 118–132 Malik Beasley (29) Juan Hernangómez (8) Jordan McLaughlin (9) Target Center 14,315 19–43 63 March 8 New Orleans L 107–120 Malik Beasley (21) Malik Beasley (9) D'Angelo Russell (5) Target Center 18,978 19–44 64 March 10 @ Houston L 111–117 D'Angelo Russell (28) Juan Hernangómez (10) D'Angelo Russell (5) Toyota Center 18,055 19–45
Cancelled games Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 65 March 13 @ Oklahoma City Chesapeake Energy Arena 66 March 14 @ San Antonio AT&T Center 67 March 17 @ Portland Moda Center 68 March 18 @ Phoenix Talking Stick Resort Arena 69 March 20 @ Utah Vivint Smart Home Arena 70 March 22 Portland Target Center 71 March 24 Philadelphia Target Center 72 March 26 San Antonio Target Center 73 March 29 @ Boston TD Garden 74 March 30 LA Lakers Target Center 75 April 1 Dallas Target Center 76 April 3 @ New York Madison Square Garden 77 April 5 Detroit Target Center 78 April 7 Phoenix Target Center 79 April 9 Sacramento Target Center 80 April 12 @ LA Lakers Staples Center 81 April 13 @ LA Clippers Staples Center 82 April 15 New York Target Center
2019–20 season schedule

Player statistics

Regular season

Player	POS	GP	GS	MP	REB	AST	STL	BLK	PTS	MPG	RPG	APG	SPG	BPG	PPG
Jarrett Culver	SG	63	35	1,506	212	110	57	38	580	23.9	3.4	1.7	.9	.6	9.2
Josh Okogie	SG	62	28	1,547	268	99	68	26	533	25.0	4.3	1.6	1.1	.4	8.6
Robert Covington†	PF	48	47	1,411	287	56	80	45	615	29.4	6.0	1.2	1.7	.9	12.8
Gorgui Dieng†	C	46	17	778	256	58	37	42	341	16.9	5.6	1.3	.8	.9	7.4
Andrew Wiggins†	SF	42	42	1,455	219	155	29	36	942	34.6	5.2	3.7	.7	.9	22.4
Keita Bates-Diop†	PF	37	0	646	110	30	17	20	251	17.5	3.0	.8	.5	.5	6.8
Shabazz Napier†	PG	36	22	856	110	187	40	7	347	23.8	3.1	5.2	1.1	.2	9.6
Karl-Anthony Towns	C	35	35	1,187	378	153	33	42	926	33.9	10.8	4.4	.9	1.2	26.5
Jeff Teague†	PG	34	13	945	88	208	25	13	448	27.8	2.6	6.1	.7	.4	13.2
Treveon Graham†	SF	33	20	663	100	30	17	2	171	20.1	3.0	.9	.5	.1	5.2
Kelan Martin	SF	31	4	495	96	23	7	9	197	16.0	3.1	.7	.2	.3	6.4
Naz Reid	C	30	11	495	124	35	19	22	269	16.5	4.1	1.2	.6	.7	9.0
Jordan McLaughlin	PG	30	2	590	49	125	34	4	229	19.7	1.6	4.2	1.1	.1	7.6
Noah Vonleh†	C	29	1	347	116	26	11	6	119	12.0	4.0	.9	.4	.2	4.1
Jordan Bell†	C	27	0	235	78	14	2	10	83	8.7	2.9	.5	.1	.4	3.1
Jake Layman	SF	23	2	505	57	15	17	10	210	22.0	2.5	.7	.7	.4	9.1
Jaylen Nowell	SG	15	0	151	13	19	3	1	57	10.1	.9	1.3	.2	.1	3.8
Malik Beasley†	SG	14	14	463	71	27	9	2	290	33.1	5.1	1.9	.6	.1	20.7
Juancho Hernangómez†	PF	14	14	411	102	18	14	4	181	29.4	7.3	1.3	1.0	.3	12.9
James Johnson†	C	14	1	338	66	53	19	19	168	24.1	4.7	3.8	1.4	1.4	12.0
D'Angelo Russell†	PG	12	12	392	55	79	17	4	260	32.7	4.6	6.6	1.4	.3	21.7
Allen Crabbe†	SF	9	0	131	12	5	0	0	29	14.6	1.3	.6	.0	.0	3.2
Jarred Vanderbilt†	PF	2	0	5	1	0	0	0	2	2.5	.5	.0	.0	.0	1.0
Jacob Evans†	SG	2	0	4	0	0	0	0	0	2.0	.0	.0	.0	.0	.0

• ^† Denotes player spent time with another team in the season. Stats reflect time with the Timberwolves only.

Transactions

Main article: List of 2019-20 NBA season transactions

Trades

July
July 6	To Minnesota Timberwolves Draft rights to Jarrett Culver (#6)	To Phoenix Suns Dario Šarić Draft rights to Cameron Johnson (#11)	[5]
July 8	To Minnesota Timberwolves Jake Layman (sign and trade)	To Portland Trail Blazers Draft rights to Bojan Dubljević (2013 #59)	[6]
	To Minnesota Timberwolves Treveon Graham Shabazz Napier Cash considerations	To Golden State Warriors Draft rights to Lior Eliyahu (2006 #44)	[7]
January
January 16	To Minnesota Timberwolves Allen Crabbe	To Atlanta Hawks Jeff Teague Treveon Graham	[8]
February
February 5	Four-team trade		[9]
	To Minnesota Timberwolves Malik Beasley (from Denver) Juan Hernangómez (from Denver) Jarred Vanderbilt (from Denver) Evan Turner (from Atlanta) 2020 BKN protected first-round pick[a]	To Atlanta Hawks Clint Capela (from Houston) Nenê (from Houston)
	To Denver Nuggets Keita Bates-Diop (from Minnesota) Shabazz Napier (from Minnesota) Noah Vonleh (from Minnesota) Gerald Green (from Houston) 2020 HOU first-round pick	To Houston Rockets Robert Covington (from Minnesota) Jordan Bell (from Minnesota) 2024 GSW second-round pick
February 6	To Minnesota Timberwolves D'Angelo Russell Omari Spellman Jacob Evans	To Golden State Warriors Andrew Wiggins 2021 MIN protected first-round pick[b] 2021 MIN second-round pick	[11]
	Three-team trade		[12]
	To Miami Heat Andre Iguodala (from Memphis) Jae Crowder (from Memphis) Solomon Hill (from Memphis)	To Memphis Grizzlies Justise Winslow (from Miami) Dion Waiters (from Miami) Gorgui Dieng (from Minnesota)
	To Minnesota Timberwolves James Johnson (from Miami)

Free agents

Re-signed

Player	Signed

Additions

Player	Signed	Former Team

Subtractions

Player	Reason Left	New Team

Notes

1. Minnesota will receive the pick if it's #15-30, else it will roll over with the same protection through 2022; if the first-round pick isn't conveyed, Minnestota will receive Brooklyn's 2022 and 2024 second-round picks.^[10]
2. Golden State will receive the pick if it's #4-30, else they will receive Minnesota's first-round pick in 2022